Captain Fearless returns with his high school football picks

Time to take your shots at the Caller.com high school football prognosticator

Michael Zamora/Caller-Times
Quarterback Cody Brewer makes a long throw Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013 during practice at Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

COASTAL BEND - This is year five for Captain Fearless. For those who know me, they would say it fits that it would take me five years to get through high school.

But for those who only know my picks, you know I'm much smarter than that. Right. Right?

Never mind, 2013 is a new year and hopefully past overall high school football pick'em champs – Steven Floyd (2011) and Wayne Henning (2012) – will join us for this season. Only fair we (or I) should get a crack at them.

So that is enough of the chitchat. Here are all my picks for this week along with my five most interesting matchups.

FLOUR BLUFF AT KING

How much will Flour Bluff miss quarterback Kolton Mims? I think a lot. Even with him, this would be tough for me to automatically hand to the Hornets because I think coach Hesseltine is building a very strong program at King. But I look at the fact that King led this game going to the fourth quarter last season and I see King better than 2012 and Flour Bluff not as good, especially until they can find a proven playmaker or three on offense.

Winner: King

INGLESIDE AT REFUGIO

The risk taker in me wants to click on Ingleside. Refugio is on one of the longest regular season winning streaks in Texas high school football history and should be primed for an upset. But I think enough people doubt them that the Bobcats will come out focused and put together a great performance. I expect the same from Ingleside in what should be one of the best games in South Texas all season.

Winner: Refugio

BEEVILLE VS. KINGSVILLE

This was going to be an easy pick and then Kingsville running back turned quarterback Mason Copeland went and transferred to Gainesville. So … this game is just filled with unknowns. If I could, I wouldn't make a pick at all. But that's not what they pay me for … wait; I'm going to get paid for this finally? No? But … Fine.

Winner: Beeville

MATHIS VS. BANQUETE

In the early season, I tend to stick with the known over the unknown. In this case, I'm picking the coach who is more known to his players. While Kevin Hermes starts another season with Banquete's sights on the playoffs, Mathis is looking at its fourth coach in the same time frame. While Mathis coach Tim Holt was very successful at George West, it may take him time to get Mathis to that level.

Winner: Banquete

RIVIERA VS. BISHOP

Two struggling football programs meet in a game that could set the tone for 2013. New Riviera head coach Nathan Borden knows what to expect from Bishop because he was an assistant football coach and head baseball coach for the Badgers this past season. That's enough for me to throw my hat on the Seahawks' side.

Winner: Riviera

Caller.com high school football coverage schedule

MONDAY: Player of the week polls - offense and defense - begin; State polls released

TUESDAY: Coastal Bend 5A-4A poll released

WEDNESDAY: Player of the week polls end at 6 p.m.; Captain Fearless' top 5 picks; Coastal Bend 3A-2A-1A poll released